Hi Noel, I'm a pensioner.. and been up a few dry gullies entering this hobby... What are your skies like? urban light-polluted/ rural dark ..?? Is $250-ish your limit $$-wise just for now, or can you add to it over a few months ?? .....a $350 6" Dob (+50 del') is good value, but if your skies are lousy for star hopping.. then saving longer for a low-end 'GoTo' might serve better.. (ie, $800/900-ish)
.....there is no end to how far your interest might go, once you've enjoyed some success and acquired a taste for it... but bad advice can lead to bitter aftertastes too....
It sounds like you're off to a good start with the noccies.. and previous scope experience.. have you formulated any particular area of interest to direct your progress towards ? Planets, Deepsky Objects.. or still open to it all??
Quote:
Originally Posted by Typhoon Season
I have previously had a SAXON 114mm which was manual and extremely fussy to align simply because you had to take the "Sighting Scope" out for moving and stowage. This caused enormous waste of time every time I used it. I would end up setting up for longer than I was viewing (really). Otherwise, SAXON make quality gear. I sold the Scope simply for reasons of reality. I cannot afford a motor drive but am wondering about STAR TRACKER scopes, yes, I know they are not a big name brand but fit my limited budget. They are sold by Dick Smith's Stores for $239.00. The Sighting Scope is Plastic Lenses but the rest are all glass (I believe). As it stands, I have a pair of Bushmaster 20x60 AstroBinoculars and a pair of TASCO 12x32 Binoculars that seem to do me quite well for just looking and enjoying. I do want to get another scope though and would appreciate any advice in the bounds of my affordibility please.
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